A recent study found that nearly 60 percent of Americans do not have a will, despite almost all the people surveyed agreeing that it is very important. The thought of not having an estate plan in place should make anyone nervous, but for those who provide unpaid care for an aging loved one or a…

Students living with one or more disabilities may face a number of challenges in the classroom. Often, these challenges can be overcome with the use of assistive technology. The New York Department of Education considered assistive technology to include “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or…

As the demographics of American society change the needs of each generation evolve along with them, one unique group of people is growing especially quickly — the sandwich generation, or those who are responsible for the care of both their minor children and their aging parents. Typically, this is a person in their late thirties…

By Brian L. Miller, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP On January 1, 2020 the Setting Up Every Community for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act went into effect.  The SECURE Act will impact your retirement savings, and may also affect the estate planning that you currently have in place. Below we’ve highlighted seven areas in which the SECURE…

By: Bernard A. Krooks, Certified Elder Law Attorney This is the primary question asked by many of our estate planning clients. So, here are our top 10 reasons to consider a trust (in no particular order). Please keep in mind that there are many different types of trusts and one size does not fit all.…

By Sandi Rosenbaum, Special Needs/Special Education Advocate, Littman Krooks  LLP Preparing for jobs, college and beyond is challenging for young adults with autism and families.  College readiness is fundamentally different from high school competence.  Many of the demands of college are not generally imposed in high school, especially upon students with disabilities: Student, not parent…

Early intervention (EI) represents the earliest stage of the special education process. EI refers to publicly funded supportive services given to eligible children younger than three.  These services are designed to help children by addressing developmental issues to give them better outcomes overall. To qualify children must have, or be at risk for, developmental delays.…

Childless couples are becoming increasingly common today. These couples have unique considerations to make when planning their estates. If you and your partner count yourselves among them, creating an estate plan can seem complicated but, nevertheless, it is critical in the absence of obvious heirs. Whether assets are left to another family member, a friend,…

While my father was in a nursing home receiving Medicaid, his sister died and left him money in her will, and to his children if he died before she did. I am his only child. My lawyer prepared a renunciation and had my father sign it. The lawyer said this was to facilitate the transfer of funds to me without Medicaid claiming it. My father passed away in 2006. Medicaid states that renunciation is not allowed by Medicaid patients, and they are going to court to claim the funds that are still in my aunt’s estate. After paying the lawyer $3,000, do I have any recourse?

By Marion M. Walsh, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP It may be time to review your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and ensure that it is correct and that it accurately reflects your child’s needs. If you have not received a copy of the IEP, contact your district immediately. The law requires that your child have…